Saturday, September 27th
7pm in Bard Hall at First UU

Free film event!

Join Veterans for Peace and the Social and Climate Justice teams to view the San Diego premier of the hard-hitting documentary “Earth’s Greatest Enemy”, exploring the devastating impact of U.S. imperialism and the U.S. military on climate change.  

More information: Gary Butterfield ([email protected])​

Saturday, September 20, 2025
9 am - 3 pm
Common Room at First UU

A workshop led by Rev. Sunshine Wolfe
Sponsored by JTW
​ Lunch provided at no cost! Please register.

As Unitarian Universalists, our revolutionary values include hospitality and equity rooted in the belief that every person has worth and dignity. In an ever challenging political and social environment in the United States, our commitment to this needs to deepen, but how? What we know is that we practice at church what it means to live our values so we can model it in the world. How do we transform anti-racism work from the individual to the community? What tools can we use to bring that change? How do we stay committed in a world that can be overwhelming and uncertain?

This workshop will focus on tools for bringing your community into this important work with heavy emphasis on how First UU Church of San Diego continues the decades long work to become the world we
dream about. Rooted in play, information, and creative emergence — plan to work and play hard in community together.

Rev. Sunshine Wolfe (they/them) is the Regional Lead of the Pacific Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association. They have been a religious professional for 23 years, first as a religious educator and then an ordained minister. Rev. Sunshine specializes in Antiracism/Anti-Opression/Multicultural work with a heavy emphasis on equity, belonging, and change. They have preached and taught at over 120 UU congregations across the country including working in two regions at the UUA over the past eight years. Rev. Sunshine believes in the importance of transformative joy to bring about what CB Beal calls “preemptive radical inclusion.”

If you have questions, contact any JTW Core Team Member: Martha Davis, Bill James, Brian Kougl, Steve Howard, Valeria Aguilar.

Even more info here.

Friday, Sept. 26
7:00-9:00 PM
The Gathering Place of the Church of the Brethren
3850 Westgate Place, San Diego 92105

A Panel Discussion moderated by Michael Brackney (Peace Resource Center) featuring:

Yusef Miller (ICEJ) – A faith perspective on war and militarism
Scott Kelley (SDSU Professor) –The climate crisis background
Jim Rine (Veterans For Peace) – Militarism and climate change
Gary Butterfield (Veterans For Peace) – Militarism in San Diego

The military industrial complex is an existential threat to all life on planet earth. San Diego County is home to the highest concentration of active duty military service members in the world and has a robust defense industry component in its regional economy.  

Yet the US military is the single largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels and emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world.  With the military budget exceeding $1 trillion, at the expense of all other social spending, and the effects of the climate crisis manifesting daily, as well as an ongoing international arms race, isn’t it time to carefully examine the military’s contribution to the climate crisis?

Sponsors: Activist San Diego; CleanEarth4Kids; Climate Reality Project; CodePink; Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice; Pax Christi; Peace Resource Center; and Veterans For Peace.

Free event. Register here.

Thursday, September 18th
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Bard Hall at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego

We Have Just Begun, 77 minutes, Directed by Michael Warren Wilson, 2023

Free event. Discussion following screening. Check out the trailer.

In 1919, Black workers' decades-long efforts to challenge their exploitation and become landowners in the Arkansas Delta culminated in the nation's deadliest racial massacre and labor battle, an event which was then buried for 100 years. We Have Just Begun is the result of over seven years of investigation into the suppressed history and legacy of the Elaine Massacre and Dispossession and explores the continuity of exploitation and domination in the Delta from before 1919 to the present. 


In the Reconstruction era, Philips County became the sharecropping capitol of Arkansas, with capital flooding into the region as it became a global hub for hardwood and cotton. Amidst this massive influx of wealth, Black laborers still found themselves paid less than their white counterparts for the same work. Robert Lee Hill, a sharecropper's son, attempted to organize a union of Black farmers, landowners, and business owners in the region, which also included WWI soldiers who had returned home from fighting for freedom abroad to find discrimination still rampant at home. Whipped up into a frenzy by a growing Black business class and rising labor movements vilified as the product of foreign agents, white communities enacted the "Red Summer" which saw startling increases in KKK membership and lynchings, and would manifest in its deadliest form in the Elaine Race Riot.


Challenging the official narrative that Black workers instigated the riot by shooting a white police officer, and that only a few dozen workers were subsequently killed, We Have Just Begun assembles striking new revelations by descendants, recordings of eyewitnesses, and original research to portray a region and people brutally stripped of land and resources and forced to relocate to areas where their descendants remain to this day. Immersing the viewer in a community wrestling with its own legacy, the film reveals previously untold layers of the episode, including unearthed documents that illuminate the true motivations for and scope of the massacre and subsequent mass dispossession. A lyrical composition of oral histories, primary sources, and original compositions by musician Joshua Asante, We Have Just Begun is a portrait of rural struggle toward emancipation, despite brutal attempts to suppress it, and the ways in which the present continues to be shaped by the past. 

Tenemos una gran noticia: vamos a lanzar un nuevo sistema de boletos para que la recogida de alimentos sea más sencilla y eficiente. A partir de ahora, usaremos un sistema de texto para dar un lugar en la fila.



Cómo obtener un boletoEl sábado, puedes conseguir un boleto enviándonos un mensaje de texto al (619) 678-0134 después de las 7:00 a. m. Cuando nos escribas, te preguntaremos para cuántas familias estás recogiendo alimentos. Una vez que respondas, recibirás tus boletos. Puedes obtener boletos para un máximo de tres familias.


¿Qué pasa cuando se terminan los boletos electrónicos?Después de las 8:30 a. m., distribuiremos boletos de papel en persona en la iglesia First UU, ubicada en 970 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91911.


Qué esperar en tu boletoTanto si recibes un boleto electrónico como uno de papel, cada uno tendrá un número que representa tu lugar en la fila y la hora aproximada para recoger los alimentos.
Por favor, no llegues a la iglesia antes de la hora indicada en tu boleto. El estacionamiento es limitado y queremos asegurarnos de que todos tengan una experiencia fácil y sin contratiempos.
Agradecemos tu cooperación y esperamos verte el sábado.

Saturday, Sept. 13
10:30 – 12:30
Balboa Park

​Join Climate Justice and 4 other Climate groups to celebrate SUN DAY, a national celebration of solar power. We’ll have vegan snacks, family games, music and dynamic speakers with creative ideas on how to shape our clean energy future.  Learn more and register HERE. For more info: [email protected] .

Sunday, September 7
12:30 - 2:30
Bard Hall at First Unitarian Universalist of San Diego

A series featuring movies with strong female leads. There will be popcorn!

Free event

Friday, September 5
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Room 320 at First Unitarian Universalist of San Diego

Contact Louise Titlow ([email protected]) for more info. 

​We’re sending care to each of you as we navigate the transition for the South Bay Campus to our shared space at St. John’s Episcopal Church. We are in touch with the lay leaders and the new Interim Pastor at St. John’s following the events of the past few weeks. The leaders of both communities are committed to moving forward together and supporting one another through this challenging time.

Our move timeline is also in flux as we continue to work with the City of Chula Vista on our Conditional Use Permit. Although we have worked diligently for months, it is now clear that we will not have an approved permit in place by the end of this month.

In order to minimize disruption for both our worshiping community and the food pantry, we are being flexible with the move timeline. We’ve made arrangements with our landlord to continue at our current location for a month or two more as we continue to work through the CUP process.

Although we will not be worshiping at St. John’s on 8/24, we will move forward with changing our Worship time to 2 pm.

There will be time and space this Sunday, 8/17 at South Bay to share updates and process these changes following our Summer Spiritual Workshop.

Below is an updated worship schedule:

10 am at 970 Broadway, Suite 103

8/17: “UU Prayer,” Facilitated by Rev. Kristen Kuriga
            Followed by community meeting to share updates, answer questions,
            and to create space to process recent news
            Barbeque and Ice Cream Social at St. John’s at 2 pm
            The BBQ at St. John’s is happening. If you plan to attend, please RSVP
            to: [email protected], 619-422-4141

2 pm at 970 Broadway, Suite 103 (until further notice)
                       
8/24: “UU 101,” Facilitated by Tony Bianca & Valeria Aguilar

8/31: “Sacred Resistance,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga & Rev. Justine Sullivan

9/7: Ingathering Service, title TBA

If you have questions, or are in need of support, please reach out to Rev. Kristen or Rev. Justine.

Join us to help wrap burritos on Thursday, August 28th from 3:45 to 7:30.
 
We will prepare the burritos for roughly one hour beginning at 3:45 in the Common Room at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego in Hillcrest. After cleaning up, we'll depart the church to distribute the burritos.
 
Assembling burritos involves scooping beans, rice, and corn into a warmed tortilla, wrapping the tortilla, placing two burritos into a bag with two cold waters, and then putting the bagged items into a wagon.
 
We estimate arrival at 16th and Imperial (by St. Vincent De Paul's Villages) of 6pm.  Folks can expect to return to Hillcrest by 7:30 pm latest.
​ 
You are welcome to participate in either the preparation, distribution, or both. 
 
RSVP to Lara Anderson ([email protected])

Prep Location and Caravan Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
298 W Arbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
 
Distribution Location and Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego—South Bay
970 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Funded through the Young Adult Ministry program

Sundays, from September 7 through October 26, 2025 (8-week course)
6 to 8 pm
Room 323 on the Hillcrest Campus of
the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego

Bob Nowlan will teach Radical Ideas in Reactionary Times a pilot class for a prospective free university in collaboration with the San Diego chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In Radical Ideas in Reactionary Times we will be read and discuss one chapter per week (15 to 30 pages) from Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life by Kristen Ghodsee. We will make use of this reading to spark our imagination concerning dramatically better ways of organizing all kinds of possible dimensions of our lives, while drawing connections with the work of others, past and present, who have developed and are developing similar imaginative ideas and who have engaged and are engaging in similar small-scale and/or short-term practices of living radically differently as well.

The class is free of charge.
Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 30 students, so we may not be able to accommodate everyone. But we welcome application and enrollment from people of diverse backgrounds, and there are no prerequisites. Interest in the class focus and in engaging with others in discussing this focus is all that matters. 

Complete and submit the application.
The tentative deadline is the end of the day, August 17, 2025.

For questions, feel free to contact Bob Nowlan ([email protected]).

Sunday, September 14 (Session 1)
12 – 1:30 pm
Bard Hall at First UU SD

Join us for Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement, a course introducing gender diversity and trans identity, examining current political attacks on trans people, and offering tools to create safety and belonging in UU congregations.

Attendance at all 3 sessions is encouraged but not required.
Session 1: Sep 14
Session 2: Oct 12
Session 3: Nov 9

 Sunday, August 10
3 pm - 6 pm
Gilly's House of Cocktails

Trivia for a Cause! Join our community partner San Diego Coalition for Reproductive Justice for a fun and meaningful afternoon of trivia, community, and activism. This event supports the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), a leading voice for immigrant and refugee rights since 1986.

Bring your friends, form a team, and make an impact while having a great time!

Registration is $25 per person or $80 for a team of four.
​Register here and email Karen Lamphere with questions.

Thursday, August 7th
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Bard Hall at First UU SD

Join us in celebrating a monumental milestone: six and a half decades of championing local artists and bringing creativity to our community. For 65 years, the Bard Hall Art Guild has been a vibrant hub, a place where emerging talents find their voice and established artists share their masterpieces. We've watched countless careers blossom and have been honored to share so many powerful, beautiful, and thought-provoking works with you.

New Exhibit: "Peace and Protest"

As part of our anniversary celebration, we're thrilled to unveil our newest exhibit, "Peace and Protest." This powerful collection features works by a diverse group of artists who explore themes of social justice, activism, and the pursuit of peace. Their pieces challenge us to reflect, to question, and to engage with the world around us.
The "Peace and Protest" exhibit will be on display from August to September 2025. Don't miss the opportunity to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and hear the stories behind their captivating works.

A Special Display: The Legacy of Bert and Brennan Hubbell

In honor of our 65th anniversary, we're also proud to present a special display featuring the works of the artists Bert and Brennan Hubbell. Their legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of our gallery's history, and their contributions have inspired generations of artists and art lovers.

We can't wait to celebrate this incredible milestone with you. Come be a part of our story and witness the future of art in our community.

Displayed art by Greg Brown, Marla English, Nancy Fisk, Fritz Goeckner, Bert Hubbell, Brennan Hubbell, Adrienne Abate Kaplan, John Carlos Keasler, Nancy Neel, Bob Riger, Jack Wade, and Carolyn Woodbury.

Sunday, August 17
11:30 am
The Common Room at First UU SD

Join us for an information session on becoming an Apartheid-Free Congregation. This forum is hosted by First UU’s Palestine-Israel Justice Team and includes the following speakers: Doris Bittar, Rev. Ellie
Kilpatrick, Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh, and Rabbi Alexis Pearce.

Pizza will be provided.
Contact: [email protected]

Sunday, August 10
12:15 - 2:30 pm
Bard Hall at First UU SD

Join us for “August: Osage County” (Rated R), the next movie in our series Women in Film. We screen movies with strong female leads.

Free event.

Monday, Aug 4th
12:00 - 1:00 pm
US District Court Bldg
385 W Broadway, San Diego

The Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice will hold a silent vigil in front of the District Court Building to resist the greed and injustice of the current political climate and pray for earth repair.  All are welcome.  

Please wear black.  

​Register and learn more HERE.

​Join us to help wrap burritos on Thursday, July 17th from 3:45 to 8:00.
 
We will prepare the burritos from 3:45 to 5:30 in the Common Room at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego in Hillcrest.
 
The process involves scooping beans, rice, and corn into a warmed tortilla, wrapping the tortilla, placing two burritos into a bag with two cold waters, and then putting the bagged items into a wagon.
 
We depart from the Hillcrest campus at 5:30 pm and meet at the South Bay First Church campus to distribute at 6:00 pm.  Folks can expect to return to Hillcrest by 8 pm latest.
​ 
You are welcome to participate in either the preparation, distribution, or both. 
 
RSVP to Lara Anderson ([email protected])

Prep Location and Caravan Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
298 W Arbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
 
Distribution Location and Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego—South Bay
970 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Funded through the Young Adult Ministry program

Monday, July 28
7:00pm
AMC Fashion Valley 18

Why is it so difficult for some people to give so little and so easy for others to give so much? ABUNDANT explores these questions by entering the world of extreme altruism: non-directed kidney donation. These rare individuals give kidneys away to complete strangers.
​
For more information: https://gathr.com/events/a953eb22/abundant-screening-at-amc-fashion-valley-18

​

When: Monday-Friday
Where: 880 Front St, San Diego
Shifts: 8:00am-12:00pm or 1:00-4:00pm

Volunteers are needed at the courthouse for a variety of volunteer roles. Detention Resistance is taking the lead on the organizing, and they have been coordinating support for detainees since 2018. They have on-the ground training and volunteer roles for a variety of comfort levels and for people who are and are not bilingual.

Tips: wear business casual and wear a mask to protect your identity
You DO NOT need to sign up anywhere, just show-up.

Email Valeria with any questions.

Every second and fourth Tuesday
Zoom: http://bit.ly/4kxvlqG 

We have formed a support group to share our grief over the relentless, unprecedented changes in the U.S. and the world. After deep sharing, we will explore strategies and rituals for coping. Connect with others who are struggling.
​Questions? Contact Valeria.

Throughout the month of July, our offering is being received in support of Pink Haven Coalition, a collective of organizations and individuals who are committed to trans liberation and to growing community defense and alternative systems of care for gender diverse people. They are working together to create networks of safety and direct support for all those who need to relocate, access healthcare across state lines, or stay as safe as possible where they are. Learn more.

Pride Parade with First UU’s Rainbow Action Group
Saturday, July 19
10 am - 3 pm
Hillcrest Area

Join First UU and sibling congregations for the San Diego Pride Parade in Hillcrest. We’ll meet at Valerie’s truck and trailer, our gathering spot for walking or riding in the parade.

For details about meeting time and location, contact Louise at [email protected]. More info here. 

Sunday, July 13
12:15 pm – 2:30 pm
First UU SD, Bard Hall

Join us for "Hidden Figures", the first movie in our new series Women in Film. These movies will highlight strong female characters.

This free, open-to-all series includes popcorn!